Lollapaloozaville

It’s the last day of Lollapalooza, the destination music event that has taken up residence in Grant Park. Local critic Jim DeRogatis does a good job of explaining why somebody might not want to attend what he calls “Walmart On The Lake.” I’ve never been to Lollapalooza. A couple of years ago a friend of mine was supposed to be working at the show and I was hoping she’d be able to get me in for free, but she wound up working on the Tim McGraw tour instead. I’ve never really thought it was worth the money that they’re charging for it.

I was looking at the Lollapalooza web site and noticed that it gave you the option of putting together your own personal festival lineup. You had to register with the site in order to do that, and I wasn’t curious enough about the feature to take the time to register. So I decided to just make my own Lallapalooza lineup right here.

Paul Anka “Black Hole Sun” (Soundgarden)
I was slightly taken aback when I heard that Soundgarden was getting back together for the show. Bands from the 90s are getting back together to play big outdoor festivals followed by lucrative tours. With everything that’s changed in the world since the last time Soundgarden walked the earth, it’s good to know that there are some things that will never change because they’re deeply ingrained in our collective DNA.

In the musical sub-genre of Lounge Covers of Black Hole Sun I much prefer the version by Steve and Eydie, but after a really lethargic introduction Mr. Anka does swing this crazy tune.

Willy Porter “Whip It” (Devo)
I’m not sure if Devo got back together just for the lucrative nostalgia touring, but it wouldn’t surprise me at all to find out that they did. I do like the idea that they were so far ahead of their time the first time around that a lot of people are just catching up to them.

Willy Porter puts a great bluesy spin on this one.

Hot Chip “Transmission” (Joy Division)
I was talking to a woman once whose boyfriend was really into Joy Division. She told me that she tried listening to it but it made her feel like the weight of the world was on her shoulders. That’s the best description I’ve ever heard of Joy Division’s music.

I love what Hot Chip does with this song. It’s got disco guitar, a section that quotes “Baby’s On Fire,” and a great sense of humor.

Drive By Truckers “People Who Died” (Jim Carroll)
This song just never did much for me. It’s not that I don’t like it, I just couldn’t understand why so many people liked it so much. The Drive By Truckers go 70s mindless boogie all over it and the results are excellent.

Jane’s Addiction “Ripple” (Grateful Dead)
If you’ve read my Manifesto you know that this is one of my favorite covers and is also one of my least favorite songs. My dorm roommate in my freshman year of college was an alcoholic who would buy a quart of the cheapest vodka he could find and drink it all at one sitting. He had blackouts two or three times a week. I asked him if it bothered him to have blackouts that frequently. He told me “it used to bother me but I got used to it.” Presumably today he’s sober, in jail, or dead. I wish nothing but the best for the guy.

Anyway, this guy fancied himself a Deadhead. He owned three Grateful Dead albums, two of which were greatest hits packages that had about half their content in common. He Played “Ripple” a lot. A really lot. So I came to associate the song with hopeless drunken dissipation.

But after years of not listening to the Dead I heard this cover by Jane’s Addiction. It’s a joyous, slaphappy song that’s completely unlike the original. They took a song that I never wanted to hear again and made me enjoy listening to it. So I’m sharing it in recognition of Perry Farrell’s appearance at this year’s festival.